Keynote Speaker at the SASS Convention

Ronald Schmeits, the current president of the National Rifle Association of America will deliver the Keynote Address at the SASS Convention. The keynote address will be delivered at opening ceramonies on Thursday morning, December 3rd at the Top of the Riv.

A New Mexico resident, Schmeits has been an NRA Life Member for more than 20 years and a Benefactor Member since 2005. Elected to the NRA Board of Directors in the fall of 2000, he currently serves as chairman of the Finance Committee, chairman of the Meeting Site Selection Committee, and chairman of the Task Force on Industry Relations. In addition, he serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the NRA Whittington Center, a 33,300-acre premiere shooting and hunting facility in Raton, New Mexico.

Schmeits is a member of the NRA Heritage Society, a committed supporter and sponsor of Friends of NRA and an active member of a variety of civic groups and community service organizations, including Elks and Rotary. A recreational shooter, an advocate of all competitive shooting disciplines and an avid hunter of all species, he is a Life Member of the Whittington Center Gun Club; a Founding Member of the New Mexico Wildlife Foundation, and a member of the Single Action Shooting Society, the Amateur Trapshooting Association, Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Association and the Boy Scouts of America’s Philmont Inspection Team.

Long active in politics, Schmeits worked closely with New Mexico’s governor and legislature to pass the Concealed Handgun Carry Act of 2003. He has served on the Governor’s Business Advisory Committee under four different administrations – both Republican and Democrat – and he continues to maintain a personal and professional relationship with Governor Bill Richardson on various issues relating to Second Amendment rights, water distribution, investments and business. He was appointed by the governor to serve as director of the U.S.- Canadian River Compact Commission, which controls water flowage from northeastern New Mexico within the state and into Oklahoma and Texas. From 1976 to 1980, he served as mayor of Jordan, Minnesota.

Schmeits now serves as president, CEO and director of International Bank in Raton, New Mexico; CEO and chairman of the board of International Bank, Trinidad, Colorado; chairman of the board and director of Farmers and Stockmens Bank in Clayton, New Mexico; and vice president and director of Raton Capital Corporation in Raton, New Mexico. He is a past president and current member of the New Mexico Bankers Association, a past president and member of the Raton Chamber of Commerce and director of the University of New Mexico Foundation Finance Committee.

A Nebraska native, Schmeits attended the University of Nebraska and holds an MBA in bank management from Rutgers University.

Special Announcement from Roy Rogers Jr.

I have been personally agonizing over how to start this letter. I guess I will start by saying thank you. Thank you for the years of love, support, prayers and loyalty to the Rogers Family. You, the fans, and our Board of Directors, are the ones who have kept our family's museum going for over 42 years. It has been a wonderful ride. After millions of visitors and countless stories of what Roy and Dale have meant to you, the Board of Directors have voted to close our doors of the Museum at the end of 2009. This has not been an easy decision. Many very emotional and financial issues have been addressed by all of us, as you can well imagine.

The decision to close the Museum has come after two years of steady decline in visitors to the Museum. A lot of factors have made our decision for us. The economy for one, people are just not traveling as much. Dad's fans are getting older, and concerned about their retirement funds. Everyone is concerned about their future in this present economy. Secondly, with our high fiscal obligations we cannot continue to accumulate debt to keep the doors open. This situation is one I have not wanted to happen. Dad always said - "If the museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on." Myself and my family have tried to hold together the Museum and collection for over 15 years, so it is very difficult to think that it will all be gone soon.

What will happen to Roy Rogers, Jr and his family? For those of you that have heard I am retiring, nothing could be farther from the truth. My company, Golden Stallion, and its show tribute to Roy and Dale, will continue. I plan on taking the show to another venue in Branson. We are looking for space now. The show will also be available to travel around the country and take the message of Roy and Dale wherever we travel. I feel that this country needs the message that Roy and Dale always put forth, not only in their professional lives, but in their private lives as well.

The Museum's last day of operation will be December 12th. We want everyone to have the opportunity to visit the Museum one last time to see the collection in its entirety. This will be your last chance to see Roy and Dale's collection. Tell your friends and encourage them to come, before we close. This will be your final chance!!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Remember, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans will live forever in our hearts and minds, and will continue to ride across the silver screen through their movies. Every time you think of Roy and Dale, that warm feeling you have always felt, will always return.

Watch our website for further announcements and special dates.

I leave you all with Dad's favorite saying- Good bye, Good luck, and may the good Lord take a likin' to ya! See you in Branson, or on the road.

Love to all of you!
Happy Trails.
Dusty and Family

This item is a reprint from Smoke Signals the news letter of High Noon Western Americana.

Members Only Updates

New Action Shooting Tip and Two New Mounted Shooting Tips were added today. We will continue to add new shooting tip every week. Also, all of the END of Trail Stages from 2002 to 2009 are now on line as well as some great plans for props that can be use in Action Shooting Matches. Hope you enjoy.

The November eCowboy Chronicle

The November eCowboy Chronicle is now on-line in the Members Only section of the SASS Web Site. I have also add a few new props this week along with the END of TRAIL Stages for 2008 and 2009. I will be adding a new shooting tip video on Monday along with some new mounted videos next week as well. Enjoy

The Circle of Safety

Below are parts 1 and part 2 of a video made to demonstrate the the Circle of Safety concept. This is an agenda item at the Territorial Governor's Summit this year. Thanks to Black Jack Zack, EZ Shot and others that help put this together. This demonstrates the concept so Territorial Governors and clubs can make up their mind on how to vote for the agenda item. Also, the time is now to register for the SASS Convention. Sign up here.

PART 1



PART 2

SASS Members Only Web Page Opens Today.

The long awaited SASS Members Only Web Page Opens today.

The site is full of shooting tip videos, mounted videos along with back issues of the SASS Chronicle, how-to's on making props, member news and our new on-line Cowboy Chronicle.

I think members will find this to be a spot they will visit often. We will be up loading new shooing tips at least once a week and up loading more back issues of the Cowboy Chronicle along with more props, stages and other file to help with monthly matches.

The new on-line version of the Cowboy Chronicle will have hyper-links to advertisers that will you directly to there web site. The on-line Cowboy Chronicle will be a very visual experence that members are sure to like.

Stop by and check it out at http://members.sassnet.com

SASS Cowboy Action Shooting Tip - Drawing from a Straight Hang holster

It is Friday and Long Hunter discusses drawing from a Straight Hang Holster. This concludes the week-long Shooting Tips on my blog. But, Monday the all new SASS "Members Only " web site opens and there will be at least one new shooting tip each week. Along with the all new on-line edition of the "Cowboy Chronicle." So log in Monday and check out all the new items in the "Members Only" web site.